A record number of homes got solar panels this year – NRK Norway – An overview of news from around the country

There is snow on the ground and clouds in the sky above Meissen in Endre Ostfold on this December day. However, the sunny conditions here are most important for the mechanics who come here.

– The roof has a good angle and faces south, so there are good conditions for solar cells, says Christopher Lysett, project manager at Solcellespesialisten.

The company will install 22 solar panels on the roof of Christian Bühler's house. This gives a proven strength of approximately 9 kilowatt.

– He can give almost 10,000 kilowatt hours Within a year. But of course it depends on the weather, Lycett says, as two installers lift the panel from the ground onto the scaffolding.

Register high interest

Never before have so many homeowners invested in solar systems as they have this year, figures from energy and climate company Enova show. The state-owned enterprise provides support for solar cells and some other technologies that produce electricity or provide energy.

– Double the number of applicants for solar cell support this year compared to last year. Last year was also a record year, says Anna Theodora Barnwell, Enova's marketing director for services and end-use.

Before Christmas, nearly 10,500 homeowners applied for subsidies from Enova for solar systems. So that's double what it was last year – and nearly 20 times more than it was just six years ago, in 2017.

– Rising electricity prices are perhaps the most important reason why more people are investing in solar cells, believes Christopher Lycett.

More solar energy than hydropower

Hydroelectric power plants account for the vast majority of Norway's electricity production. Solar energy is still vanishingly small in the grand scheme of things. But it is increasing rapidly.

In 2023, more solar energy will be developed (295 MW) of hydropower (182 MW) measured Compound energyshows the numbers from Electric axis.

It includes all solar energy, not just what is produced on the roofs of residential buildings.

The annual production of solar energy in this country now stands at 0.454 Terawatt hours.

Therefore, there is still a long way to go before reaching Parliament's target of producing 8 terawatt-hours of solar energy per year by 2030.

But the solar system on Christian Bühler's roof in Meissen in Indre Ostfold is, in any case, a step on the way.

– arousing

-I think it's exciting, I have to admit. “Now we need to get such an application up and running and hopefully see the kilowatts ticking,” he says.

Buehler adds that he sees lower electricity bills “as part of a pension” in the coming years.

His solar system costs NOK 186,000. From this he can deduct approximately NOK 19,000 as contributions from Enova, and thus ends up with NOK 167,000.

Enova now provides an average of NOK 22,500 to support a solar cell system in residential buildings. Support was reduced somewhat from 1 October.

Repayment period

The cost of installing rooftop solar cells varies, among other things, depending on the supplier, the location of the house, the type of house and the roof that will contain the solar panels.

– Including support from Enova, the average detached house will cost around NOK 120,000 for a solar system. Some cost more, others less, says Christopher Lycett, a solar cell specialist.

– How long does it take before the facilities are repaid?

– It is very difficult to determine, because it depends a lot on the price of electricity in the coming years. But I think seven or eight years.

– How long do solar cells last?

– We imagine a lifespan of 30 years. After that, they won't stop working, but technology has come a long way, and it may be time to replace them, Lycett says.

It produces little even in the darkest times of the year

It is usually assumed that solar cells can cover a quarter of the electricity consumption of a detached house. Production is greatest from March to October.

When the plant is finished, Christian Bühler uses the app on his phone to check the electricity production. A few days later, on December 19, there was some sun and some clouds as well. The snow did not settle on the solar panels. During the day until 3:00 p.m., the station delivered 6.5 kilowatt-hours of electricity, the homeowner says by phone.

– In the darkest time of the year, I don't think it's so bad. It may help if the roof is steep, Buehler says.